A Backyard Resort with a freeform saltwater pool as the focal point, a spa provides a spot to relax. A large raised waterfall spills into the pool, appearing to flow from the koi pond above. We extended a streambed to flow from behind the outdoor kitchen, all the way to the patio, to spill into the koi pond. A Sports Court at one end of the yard with putting greens meander throughout the landscape and the water features. A curved outdoor kitchen with a large Viking grill with a warming drawer to the sink and outdoor refrigeration. A Pavilion with large roof and columns unite the landscape with the home while creating an outdoor living room with a stone fireplace along the back wall, while still allowing views of the yard beyond.

Bighorn Palm Desert modern architectural home for luxury living

Whipple Russell Architects

Bighorn Palm Desert modern architectural home for luxury living. Photo by William MacCollum.
This is an example of an expansive and desert look modern front yard full sun xeriscape in Los Angeles with gravel.

Donald Pell Studio Gardens, East Vincent Township

Donald Pell - Gardens

Side view of The Oval from surrounding perennial borders featuring long-lived herbaceous perennials and grasses
Photo of an expansive country backyard full sun xeriscape for summer in Philadelphia with with flowerbed and gravel.

Japanese-Inspired Garden

Holmes Fine Gardens

This early-phase Japanese-inspired garden draws from the Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist philosophies and combines the basic elements of plants, water, and rocks along with simple, clean lines to create a tranquil backyard retreat. Plant material used includes Japanese varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials woven together to create interest throughout each season.

The Prairie At Post Estate

CAVINESS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC.

This Caviness project for a modern farmhouse design in a community-based neighborhood called The Prairie At Post in Oklahoma. This complete outdoor design includes a large swimming pool with waterfalls, an underground slide, stream bed, glass tiled spa and sun shelf, native Oklahoma flagstone for patios, pathways and hand-cut stone retaining walls, lush mature landscaping and landscape lighting, a prairie grass embedded pathway design, embedded trampoline, all which overlook the farm pond and Oklahoma sky. This project was designed and installed by Caviness Landscape Design, Inc., a small locally-owned family boutique landscape design firm located in Arcadia, Oklahoma. We handle most all aspects of the design and construction in-house to control the quality and integrity of each project. Film by Affordable Aerial Photo & Video

Planted Dry Creek

Eden Garden Design

Planted dry creek with limestone boulders and river rock provides a beautiful and functional drainage solution along the frontage of a sloping property. Photographer: Greg Thomas, http://optphotography.com/

Planted Dry Creek

Eden Garden Design

Lake Oswego Custom Getaway

Grove Custom Homes

Photo of an expansive contemporary backyard full sun xeriscape in Portland with a retaining wall and concrete pavers.

Taylor Farms Residence

TransArc Design

Inspiration for an expansive arts and crafts backyard full sun xeriscape in Phoenix with with rock feature and gravel.

Oak Tree Setting With Hillside Views, Landscape Renovation, Northern California

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

APLD 2021 Silver Award Winning Landscape Design. An expansive back yard landscape with several mature oak trees and a stunning Golden Locust tree has been transformed into a welcoming outdoor retreat. The renovations include a wraparound deck, an expansive travertine natural stone patio, stairways and pathways along with concrete retaining walls and column accents with dramatic planters. The pathways meander throughout the landscape... some with travertine stepping stones and gravel and those below the majestic oaks left natural with fallen leaves. Raised vegetable beds and fruit trees occupy some of the sunniest areas of the landscape. A variety of low-water and low-maintenance plants for both sunny and shady areas include several succulents, grasses, CA natives and other site-appropriate Mediterranean plants complimented by a variety of boulders. Dramatic white pots provide architectural accents, filled with succulents and citrus trees. Design, Photos, Drawings © Eileen Kelly, Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

Cernobbio

Tom Meaney Architect, AIA

Formal gardens with sandstone pavers and glass greenhouse.
Design ideas for an expansive mediterranean backyard full sun formal garden in Santa Barbara with a water feature and natural stone pavers.

mill valley gem

Jennifer Messina Interiors

Photo of an expansive transitional backyard garden in San Francisco with mulch.

Black Bear

Environmental Designs, Inc.

We used a combination of precise boulder setting along with engineered concrete and steel walls to retain soil and artfully define spaces. Landscape Construction: Environmental Designs, Inc.; Landscape Architecture Design: MARPA

Rancho Santa Fe, Parterre Gardens

Jesse York, Landscape Designer

This award-winning design epitomizes luxury and formal Italian garden elegance, with natural decomposed granite walkways leading through meticulously arranged parterre gardens. Adhering to a sophisticated white, purple, and green color palette, these gardens bloom with carefully selected roses, irises, and geraniums. Celebrated annually on upscale garden tours, this project has become a beacon of design excellence, capturing the traditional Italian style with unparalleled sophistication.

Downtown San Diego Canyon Oasis

Schnetz Landscape Inc.

©Brooke Schnetz
This is an example of an expansive arts and crafts sloped full sun xeriscape in San Diego with a garden path and concrete pavers.

The Berry Bowl

Haver & Skolnick LLC Architects

The unique domed Berry Bowl is the terminus of the garden's central pathway. Robert Benson Photography
Expansive country partial sun garden in New York with a vegetable garden and gravel for summer.

SW Idaho

Chuck B Edwards Landscape Architecture & 3D

Weeping Norway Spruce, Japanese Maple and Hosta photo 2017
Design ideas for an expansive traditional backyard garden in Boise.

The 19th Hole

O'Brien Landscape

Inspiration for an expansive traditional backyard full sun outdoor sport court in Chicago with natural stone pavers.

Landscape Design

Curb Appeal Design LLC

Mansions in May
Inspiration for an expansive traditional front yard full sun formal garden for spring in New York with a container garden and mulch.

West Coast Craftsman

Susan Friedman Landscape Architecture

The hillside front garden is set off with a privacy fence and stone columns in Craftsman style that harmonizes with the home. Natural Calistoga boulders create a casual look showcasing beautiful drought tolerant planting with seasonal color and texture. Fruitless Olives, Lavender, Ornamental Grasses and more.

Expansive Garden Design Ideas

Get Inspired by Gardens on Houzz

A lot of the time when you get home from a long day at work, all you want to do is wind down. Where better to do this than in your very own garden at home? If you do it right, a great garden design can send you right into holiday mode. But where to start? There’s so many styles to choose from when it comes to garden design. Whether you want to create a tropical, modern, contemporary, beach style or country garden - or something else entirely - the large garden image gallery on Houzz has got you covered. Get inspired and collect your ideas to narrow down your desired garden style and features.

How to Create a Garden for Your Home

Depending on which style you’re going for, be sure to know what makes a garden and if it’s appropriate for your climate. You may want to consider adding a deck or other landscaping features, but the plants you choose will mostly dictate your style and what kind of ongoing maintenance is required. Don’t worry if your backyard isn’t very spacious - there are many plants that can thrive even in a small space and allow you to turn your space into a little paradise of your own, regardless of size.

Decide which plants to use

The greenery you choose is critical to your look. For example, if you’re trying to create a tropical garden palm trees and bamboo are your go-to options. Other popular options are golden cane palm trees and fern for ground cover. From there you can add some colour with bright flowers like frangipani, hibiscus or bromeliads. All these are actually quite hardy plants, so once established, your tropical garden is actually quite easy to maintain. Use this structure and apply it to your style. Research which plants you need to set your base for a garden and go from there.

Add some decor

If the plants don’t quite do it for you yet, or if you want to add some extra wow-factor, consider adding some extra features. Even if you can’t accommodate a swimming pool, hot tub or pond, you could look at smaller water features. Simple rocks can also have a great effect, while statues and gnomes will add some extra character. Don’t forget to add some furniture so you have a nice place to sit and enjoy your garden!

Need some help?

Once you know what you want your garden to look like, it may be hard to make it a reality on your own. If that is the case for you, consider consulting a professional to help you with your garden design. Every photo you find on Houzz will lead you to the local pro that did the job, so you won’t have a problem picking the perfect person to help! Whether you need a gardener in Brisbane, a landscape architect in Melbourne or a fireplace installer in Sydney, you can be sure to find one on Houzz.